‘Pacers have to show more mental strength’: Courtney Walsh

Dhaka, Dec 4: Bangladesh coach Courtney Walsh backed Bangladesh'sdecision to play an all-spin attack in the final Test against the Windies here, likening it to the Windies teams of the past playing four quicks.

Having decided that quicks wouldn't have too much of a role to play in the Dhaka Test, Bangladesh went for an all-spin attack, and even though the move did pay off – the hosts won by an innings and 184 runs – it raised some eyebrows. Bowling coach Walsh – himself a legendary former fast bowler – threw his weight behind the ploy,an ICC report said. "We are here to win Test matches. Whatever surface we play on, whichever combination is the best to get Bangladesh to win Tests, I'm always happy with it. Back in the day when Windies used to dominate, they had four fast bowlers. Now Bangladesh is dominating with four spinners, so it is just a trend," he argued.

"The surface was never going to be fast-bowler friendly. We thought the spinners would have a bigger role and that has proven to be the case," he said. Walsh acknowledged that the fast bowlers would be disappointed, but rather than dent their confidence he felt it would increase their hunger provided that they show more mental strength during practice.

He pointed out that they would have a much bigger role to play in the limited-overs games, and the subsequent Test tour of New Zealand."This was a Test to try to win the series. For me, it is not sending the wrong message. Tactically, we felt it was the best for Bangladesh to win without a fast bowler," he explained.

"It might be the first time one hasn't played, but the result matters. They should be disappointed at not playing, but it is not the end of the world or end of the road," said Walsh"Mentally, they have to show more strength in practice, in the ODIs coming up and the tour of New Zealand. Someone has to say 'okay, I wasn't selected in a Test match but I have to make sure it doesn't happen again. Whenever it is seamer friendly, my name is first on the paper'," he said."Hopefully they will get them hungry. Our job as coaches is to get them ready for overseas conditions. The more you play, it is better. In this day and age you don't have the luxury so you have to be ready whenever you get the opportunity," Walsh added.(UNI)